Randy Cook & Commonwealth is a new bluegrass band based in the Richmond, VA area. The group consists of a pair of veterans (Randy Cook and Malcolm Pulley) and a couple of young guns (Jason Owen and Lance Seal).
They are preparing to release their debut recording, with seven of twelve tracks written within the band. Five come from banjoist Pulley, who wrote In The Gravel Yard, recorded by Both Blue Highway and Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver. Guitarist Owen wrote another, as did fellow Richmond-area grasser, Danny Hughes.
All four members are strong singers, with Cook (who plays mandolin) taking most of the leads. Randy tells us that they cover a wide stylistic swath on the upcoming CD, “from traditional to progressive and everything in between.”
One song from the album, Wearing My Heart Out On My Sleeve, written by Pulley, is available now on SoundCloud. We’ll have more to say about Commonwealth Bluegrass when the CD is released.
